Floral display device

ABSTRACT

A liquid impermeable floral display device comprising an upper portion capable of receiving a floral grouping therein; and a lower portion in communication with the upper portion, wherein the lower portion includes a base portion, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are capable of moving to and from a substantially collapsed storage position, to and from a semi-expanded floral retaining position, and to and from a substantially expanded upright floral display position.

BACKGROUND

This application relates generally to a floral display device. Morespecifically, this application relates to a floral display device, whichis collapsible and capable of displaying a floral grouping in both asemi-expanded and expanded position.

SUMMARY

Floral groupings typically include an arrangement of cut flowers. Theflowers are typically cut such that they each have longer stems. Asubstantial portion of the stems is typically wrapped in a polymeric orpaper sheet such that the blooms remain visible. This sheet material isgenerally thin and, as such, is not particularly durable. Moreover, thesheet material is incapable of keeping the stems adequately hydrated,thus compromising the freshness and life of the floral grouping.Consequently, floral groupings frequently remain wrapped in the sheetmaterial only for a short amount of time. Floral groupings are thentypically removed from the sheet material and placed within a vase inorder to better display them as well as hydrate them in order to extendtheir lives. However, moving the floral groupings from the sheetmaterial to a vase is messy. Furthermore, most vases are constructedfrom fragile material, such as glass or ceramic, and prone to beingbroken if tipped over or dropped. Therefore, there is a significant needfor a device or vase which is useful for both transporting anddisplaying floral groupings, while also keeping the floral groupingshydrated.

This application discloses a device or vase that is economical toproduce, of simple construction and capable of mass production, but alsocapable of providing a user a suitable means to transport and displayfloral groupings.

In particular, this application discloses a liquid impermeable floraldisplay device comprising an upper portion capable of receiving a floralgrouping therein; and a lower portion in communication with said upperportion, wherein said lower portion includes a base portion, whereinsaid upper portion and said lower portion are capable of moving to andfrom a substantially collapsed storage position, to and from asemi-expanded floral retaining position, and to and from a substantiallyexpanded upright floral display position.

This application also discloses a collapsible vase for holding a floralgrouping comprising an upper portion comprising an upper opening and alower opening, wherein said upper portion is selectively movable from acollapsed position, wherein said upper portion is substantially flat, toan expanded position, wherein said upper portion is capable of receivinga floral grouping therein; and a fluid impermeable lower portioncomprising an upper aperture and a closed base, said upper aperture incommunication with said lower opening of said upper portion, whereinsaid lower portion is selectively movable from a collapsed position,wherein said lower portion is substantially flat, to an expandedposition, wherein said lower portion is capable of receiving a fluid anda portion of said floral grouping therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, when considered in connection with the followingdescription, are presented for the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a floral displaydevice showing a floral grouping within the device;

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 showing thefloral grouping removed from the device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the devicein a semi-expanded position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the devicein an expanded position with the solid lines, and the device in acollapsed position with the hidden lines;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the devicein a collapsed position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the devicein a semi-expanded position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the devicein a collapsed position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a floral displaydevice showing a floral grouping within the device;

FIG. 9 is a second perspective view of the device of FIG. 8 showing thefloral grouping removed from the device;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 8 showing the devicein a semi-expanded position;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 8 showing the devicein an expanded position with the solid lines, and the device in acollapsed position with the hidden lines;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 8 showing the devicein an expanded position;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 8 showing the devicein a semi-expanded position; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 8 showing the devicein a collapsed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present floral display device is described with reference toseveral illustrative embodiments described herein, it should be clearthat the present invention should not be limited to such embodiments.Therefore, the description of the embodiments provided herein isillustrative of the present invention and should not limit the scope ofthe invention as claimed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, a first embodiment of the floral displaydevice or vase 10 is shown. The vase 10 is operable to hold and displaya floral grouping 20. The vase 10 generally includes an upper portion 30and a lower portion 40. The vase 10 may be constructed from a uniformsheet of semi-flexible material, such as an extruded or molded polymer,to form the upper and lower portions 30, 40. Alternatively, the vase 10may be constructed from a uniform sheet of semi-flexible materialwhereby the sheet is sealed on at least one edge to form the upper andlower portions 30, 40. Of course, the vase 10 may be constructed fromany suitable material, including but not limited to laminated corrugatedcardboard, a composite material, etc.

The upper portion 30 includes a first set of sidewalls 50 and a secondset of sidewalls 60. However, it will be appreciated that the upperportion 30 may have any suitable number of sidewalls; furthermore, whilethe sidewalls 50, 60 of each respective set are shown as generallyconverging towards one another, it will be appreciated that thesidewalls 50, 60 of each set may be at any suitable orientation relativeto one another.

The first set of sidewalls 50 may be generally perpendicular to thesecond set of sidewalls 60 such that the upper portion 30 has agenerally square cross-section. However, it will be appreciated that thevase 10 may have any suitable cross-section. Each sidewall 50, 60includes an upper edge 70, which together define an upper opening 80 inthe upper portion 30. Similarly, each sidewall 50, 60 includes a loweredge 90, which together define a lower opening 100 in the upper portion30. In the illustrative embodiment, the upper opening 80 has a widthgreater than that of the lower opening 100; however it will beappreciated that the openings 80, 100 may have substantially similarwidths or that the width of the lower opening 100 may be greater thanthat of the upper opening 80.

The second set of sidewalls 60 may each include a fold line 110. As willbe discussed further below, each sidewall 60 may be folded at its foldline 110 when the vase 10 is moved to either the collapsed position orthe semi-expanded position.

The lower portion 40 includes a first set of sidewalls 120 and a secondset of sidewalls 130. However, it will be appreciated that the lowerportion 40 may have any suitable number of sidewalls; furthermore, whilethe sidewalls 120, 130 of each respective set are shown as generallyconverging towards one another, it will be appreciated that thesidewalls 120, 130 of each set may be at any suitable orientationrelative to one another.

The first set of sidewalls 120 may be generally perpendicular to thesecond set of sidewalls 130 such that the lower portion 40 has agenerally square cross-section. However, it will be appreciated that thevase 10 may have any suitable cross-section. Each sidewall 120, 130includes an upper edge 140, which together define an upper aperture 150in the lower portion 40. The upper edges 140 of the lower portion 40 arecoupled to the lower edges 90 of the upper portion 30. In addition, eachsidewall 120, 130 includes a lower edge 900 which is coupled to a baseportion 160. In the illustrative embodiment, the upper aperture 150 hasa width smaller than that of the base portion 160; however it will beappreciated that the upper aperture 150 and base portion 160 may havesubstantially similar widths or that the width of the upper aperture 150may be greater than that of the base portion 160.

The second set of sidewalls 130 may each include a fold line 170. Aswill be discussed further below, each sidewall 130 may be folded at itsfold line 130 when the vase 10 is moved to either the collapsed positionor the semi-expanded position. Similarly, the base portion 160 may alsoinclude one or more fold lines 180; the base 160 may be folded at itsfold line(s) 180 when the vase in moved to either the collapsed positionor the semi-expanded position.

The upper portion 30 and lower portion 40, either in conjunction withone another or separately, are each movable to and from a collapsedstorage position (FIGS. 5 and 7), to and from a semi-expanded position(FIGS. 3 and 6), and to and from an expanded position (FIGS. 1, 2 and4). In the collapsed position, the first sets of sidewalls 50, 120 areadjacent to one another while the second sets of sidewalls 60, 130 arecollapsed and folded at their respective fold lines 110, 170.

In the semi-expanded position, the respective sidewalls are spaced fromone another whereby the vase 10 may receive a floral grouping 20therein. In the semi-expanded position, the second sets of sidewalls 60,130 may be partially folded at their respective fold lines 110, 170.Advantageously, the lower portion 40 is capable of retaining a fluid,such as water, whereby the ends of the floral grouping may remainhydrated thereby keeping the floral grouping 20 fresh for a longerperiod of time.

In the expanded position, the respective sidewalls are spaced from oneanother whereby the vase 10 may receive a floral grouping 20 therein andmaintain the floral grouping 20 in an upright position. A weightedmaterial may be added to the lower portion 40 to assist in supportingthe vase 10 in the upright position. The weighted material may be afluid, such as water, sand, pebbles, marbles, etc. Other suitableweighted material for supporting the vase 10 in the upright positionwill be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-14, a second illustrative embodiment of afloral display device or vase 200 is shown. The vase 200 is similar tothat of the first embodiment described above; thus, like numerals forlike elements will be used throughout. The primary difference betweenthe first illustrative embodiment and the second illustrative embodimentis that the second embodiment is that the upper portion 30 has twosidewalls 210 and a rear wall 220 and the lower portion 40 has twosidewalls 230 and a rear wall 240. Each rear wall 220, 230 has anarcuate cross-section. Additionally, the upper edges 70 of the sidewalls210 are angled towards one another such that the opening 80 displaysmore of the floral grouping 20.

The upper portion 30 and lower portion 40, either in conjunction withone another or separately, are each movable to and from a collapsedstorage position (FIG. 14), to and from a semi-expanded position (FIGS.10 and 13), and to and from an expanded position (FIGS. 8, 9, 11 and12). In the collapsed position, at least one of the sidewalls 210, 230is collapsed and folded at a respective fold line 110, 170.

In the semi-expanded position, the sidewalls 210, 230 are spaced from acorresponding rear wall 220, 240 whereby the vase 200 may receive afloral grouping 20 therein. In the semi-expanded position, the sidewalls210, 230 may be partially folded at their respective fold lines 110,170. Advantageously, the lower portion 40 is capable of retaining afluid, such as water, whereby the ends of the floral grouping may remainhydrated thereby keeping the floral grouping 20 fresh for a longerperiod of time.

In the expanded position, the sidewalls 210, 230 are spaced from acorresponding rear wall 220, 240 whereby the vase 200 may receive afloral grouping 20 therein and maintain the floral grouping 20 in anupright position. A weighted material may be added to the lower portion40 to assist in supporting the vase 200 in the upright position. Theweighted material may be a fluid, such as water, sand, pebbles, marbles,etc. Other suitable weighted material for supporting the vase 200 in theupright position will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. A liquid impermeable floral display device comprising: an upperportion capable of receiving a floral grouping therein; and a lowerportion in communication with said upper portion, wherein said lowerportion includes a base portion, wherein said upper portion and saidlower portion are capable of moving to and from a substantiallycollapsed storage position, to and from a semi-expanded floral retainingposition, and to and from a substantially expanded upright floraldisplay position.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said device ismaintainable in said upright position upon said base portion and therebycapable of supporting said floral grouping in said upright position. 3.The device of claim 1 wherein a weighted material is retained in atleast portion of said lower portion for added support of said device insaid upright position.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said weightedmaterial is selected from the group consisting of water, sand, pebbles,and marbles.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is made from auniform sheet of semi-flexible material shaped to form said upper andlower portions.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said material comprisesa polymer.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is made from auniform sheet of semi-flexible material sealed on at least one edge toform said upper and lower portions.
 8. A collapsible vase for holding afloral grouping comprising: an upper portion comprising an upper openingand a lower opening, wherein said upper portion is selectively movablefrom a collapsed position, wherein said upper portion is substantiallyflat, to an expanded position, wherein said upper portion is capable ofreceiving a floral grouping therein; and a fluid impermeable lowerportion comprising an upper aperture and a closed base, said upperaperture in communication with said lower opening of said upper portion,wherein said lower portion is selectively movable from a collapsedposition, wherein said lower portion is substantially flat, to anexpanded position, wherein said lower portion is capable of receiving afluid and a portion of said floral grouping therein.
 9. The collapsiblevase of claim 8 wherein said upper portion comprises at least twosidewalls.
 10. The collapsible vase of claim 9 wherein said sidewallsare adjacent to one another in said collapsed position.
 11. Thecollapsible vase of claim 10 wherein said sidewalls are spaced apart insaid expanded position.
 12. The collapsible vase of claim 9 wherein atleast one of said sidewalls includes a fold line wherein said sidewallis folded at said fold line when said upper portion is in said collapsedposition.
 13. The collapsible vase of claim 8 wherein the width of saidupper portion is greater at said upper opening than the width of saidupper portion at said lower opening.
 14. The collapsible vase of claim13 wherein the width of said lower portion is greater at said closedbase than the width of said lower portion at said upper aperture. 15.The collapsible vase of claim 14 wherein the width of said upper portionis greater at said upper opening than the width of said lower portion atsaid closed base.
 16. The collapsible vase of claim 8 wherein said lowerportion comprises at least two sidewalls.
 17. The collapsible vase ofclaim 16 wherein said sidewalls are adjacent to one another in saidcollapsed position.
 18. The collapsible vase of claim 17 wherein saidsidewalls are spaced apart in said expanded position.
 19. Thecollapsible vase of claim 16 wherein at least one of said sidewallsincludes a fold line wherein said sidewall is folded at said fold linewhen said lower portion is in said collapsed position.
 20. The device ofclaim 8 wherein said device is made from a uniform sheet ofsemi-flexible material shaped to form said upper and lower portions.